Poroshenko instructed to determine the Maritime boundary between Ukraine and Russia

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed decree № 320/2018, which enacted the decision of the Council of national security and defense Council (NSDC) of the country “On urgent measures for the protection of national interests in the South and East of Ukraine, in the Black and Azov seas and the Kerch Strait”. The decree and the partially classified national security Council decision published on the website of the Ukrainian leader.

The national security Council stated the conditions that may lead to a “critical destabilization of the economic and socio-political situation, the naval blockade of the coast of Ukraine.” Indicate that Russia is committed to “complete domination in the black sea region, imposing its own conditions of distribution of the sea area and limit port activities and fishing of Ukraine.”

It is noted that Russia has created an offensive military forces near the borders of Ukraine and intensified activities of their intelligence services against the country. In addition, the Russians launched “illegal economic activity for exploration and mining in the occupied territories, including the Black and Azov seas, as well as poaching seafood in an exclusive (sea) economic zone of Ukraine”.

Among other things, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is instructed within one month to submit to the Parliament draft laws on internal waters, territorial sea and adjacent zone of Ukraine, as well as to determine the coordinates of the median, which will be the line of the state border with Russia. Also, the Cabinet must prepare a consolidated claims of Kiev to Russia. During the month must be analyzed the consequences of Russia’s actions in the Black and Azov seas and Kerch Strait.

In turn, the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine is instructed to determine the line of the state border between the Ukrainian and Russian internal waters in the sea of Azov, the Kerch Strait and the Black sea. The Ministry of foreign Affairs must inform the set coordinates of both Russia and the United Nations.

The agreement between Russia and Ukraine about cooperation in use of Azov sea and Kerch Strait was signed in December 2003, after a conflict between the two countries around the Ukrainian Tuzla island in the Kerch Strait. According to the document, the sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait is recognized as the internal waters of Russia and Ukraine. The agreement stipulates the principles of freedom of navigation for merchant vessels and military ships of both States.